Log bunk and stake assembly with positive latch and latch release



April 1964 D. R. HASSELL LOG BUNK AND STAKE ASSEMBLY WITH POSITIVE LATCH AND LATCH RELEASE Filed May v5, 1961 .m km. E mm H T. m/\ KM Q, mm H :r. 8 Ilrwq Q i Nb mm WIIJQ w W 5 Q W. NW NW QNJ QN D \J W United States Patent Ofitice 3,129,955 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 3,129,955 LOG BUNK AND STAKE ASSEMBLY WITH POSI- TiVE LATCH AND LATCH RELEASE Dennis R. Hassell, R9. Box 91, Ashiand, Greg. Filed May 5, 1961, Ser. 1 0. 108,686 Claims. (1. 220145) This invention relates to log bunks of the class used for carrying logs on trucks, railroad cars and other vehicles.

This application includes improvements in structure and operation over that disclosed in applicants application Serial No. 807,505, filed April 20, 1959, now patent No. 3,033,592, for Log Bunk with Stake Easily Releasable From a Remote Station and Latchable from a Near Station.

In the aforesaid patent application of Dennis R. Hassell, a log bunk and stake assembly is described which may be tripped safely from a position remote from the stake but which may be latched positively from a location adjacent the stake. This eliminates hazard to the operator during the tripping operation and also makes possible latching the stake securely so that the danger of its tripping inadvertently during loading is eliminated.

The invention described herein possesses the foregoing feature and in addition is characterized by the following important advantages.

First, the latch is moved positively to its unlatched position by movement of the latch locking mechanism thereby overcoming any latch-sticking tendency caused by friction wear or dirt.

Second the latch is moved positively to its locked position, thereby insuring that loading of the bunk with logs will not be attempted with the latch inadvertently left in a position which is not fully locked.

Third, means are provided for insuring that the latch locking mechanism can not move past its fully locked position, i.e., past dead center. This insures that it will not be necessary to pull the locking mechanism through dead center when it is desired to release the latch, an operation which may be diflicult of accomplishment in view of the immense pressures exerted upon the latch.

Fourth, the latch is so mounted as to be swingable outside the plane of the frame and stake, Where it is accessible for servicing. This is important since the action of the locking means on the latch in time may score it sufficiently to impair its smooth operation.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, a fragmentary bottom plan view, and a fragmentary end elevation of the herein described log bunk and stake assembly;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views in side elevation, similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the action occurring during tripping of the stake; and

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1, and illustrating further the construction of the latch mechanism.

The bunk component of the presently described assembly comprises a frame, the length of which is substantially equal to the width of the vehicle. It is provided with means, not illustrated, for mounting it centrally, pivotally of the vehicle frame. Customarily two such bunks are provided, one at the front, and one at the back of the vehicle, and each having a releasable stake at each end.

The bunk frame comprises a pair of base plates 8, a pair of parallel side plates 10, 12, a centrally located top plate 14, and short bottom plates at each end. These plates thus form a chamber for reception of the stake mounting and operating mechanism.

The bunk frame may be formed as a single integral unit or, where the stake component of the present assembly is adapted for use with a bunk component already installed on the truck, the terminal portions of the frame on which the stakes are mounted may be formed separately as box-like structures which attach to the stud ends of the bunk and are fixed thereto by welding or otherwise.

Two stakes are mounted, one at each end of the bunk. Each comprises a box-shaped structure generally rectangular in cross section, made by welding together a back plate, a front plate 16, and a pair of side plates 18, 20.

The two side plates of each stake are longer than the front and back plates, and overlie side plates 12, 14 of the bunk, as is particularly apparent in FIG. 3. The stake then is hinged for swinging movement with respect to the bunk by means of pivot pin 22, journaled in bushings 24, and held in place by cotter key 26.

Latch means are present for releasably latching the stake in its upright position. Such means comprise the latch block 30, mounted inside the lower end of the stake and a cooperating latch 32 mounted on the bunk.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the latch includes a head and shank, the shank being pivotally mounted between side plates 10, 12 of the bunk frame by means of pin 34 (FIG. 6). The underside of the latch is flat and a dual purpose abutment 36 extends downwardly from the shank portion of it.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that combination latch-locking and latch-tripping means are employed in cooperation with latch 32.

Journaled on pivot pin 22, by which the stake is pivoted to the end of the bunk frame, is a bearing 49 from which extend upwardly a pair of spaced, parallel, plates 42. Rotatably mounted between these plates, at their upper ends, is a cam roller 44 which works on the under forward surface of latch 32 and which is positioned for contacting abutment 36 during its operation.

Cam roller 44 is swung between locking and unlocking positions by means of a rod 46. One end of the rod is fastened to a short shaft 48 journaled in plates 42. The other end is pivotally mounted on a lever 50 pivotally mounted on base plate 8 by means of pivot pin 52 and held in locked position by locking pin 54.

While cam roller 44 may be moved between its locked and unlocked positions by operating lever 50 on the end of the bunk remote from the stake, means also are provided on the end adjacent the stake for placing it positively in locked position. Such means comprise a short chain 56, one end of which is fastened to a sleeve 58 on shaft 48, and the other end of which is fastened to a finger pull 60 which is readily accessible to the operator.

It will be noted that if roller cam 44 does not move past dead center, i.e., in a clockwise position with reference to FIG. 1, when being shifted to its locked position, it may be released readily. However, if, because of wear of the parts, or unprecise installation, it does move past dead center, it then can not be released without lifting latch 32. This may be difficult in View of the great pressure exerted by the logs on stake 18.

Accordingly means are present for insuring that roller cam 44 does not pass its dead center position. The means employed for this purpose comprise an abutment plate 62 welded between side plates 10, 12 of the bunk frame in such a position that the roller cam assembly will abut against it when properly centered, but latch 32'will be free to swing without interference.

Operation The operation of the presently described bunk and stake assembly is as follows:

The logs are loaded into the vehicle with the stakes in their upright position. Latch 32 of each stake is securely seated against latch lock 30. Trip lever 50 is secured in 6 place by pin 54. Accordingly the latch is locked with cam roller 44 bearing securely against the underside of latch 32 so that it can not become unlatched until it is desired to discharge the logs.

When this is desired, lever 50 is released by raising pin 54, this being done safely at the side of the vehicle remote from the stake which is to be released. The lever then is moved clockwise, as viewed inFIG. 2, pulling cam lever 46 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1. Cam roller 44 then traverses the underside of latch 32 until it strikes abutment 36 on the same, as shown in FIG. 4.

Further movement of lever 50 causes a clockwise pivoting of latch 32 about pin 34 until it reaches the position of FIG. 5, completely free from latch block 30, with abutment 36 serving as a stop against the upwardly angled portion of top plate 14. The weight of the log load then causes the stake to, swing outwardly to its log discharging position.

After the logs all have been discharged, the stake is raisedrand cam-roller 44 shiftedto its locking position on the near side of the stake by pulling on chain 56. When this isdone, the cam roller assembly abuts against plate 62, insuringthat it is correctly positioned, and not past dead-center. Pin 54 then is put in place, whereupon the assembly is ready for loading again.

In the-event that the under surface of latch 32 becomes worn or scored through pressure contact with cam roller 44, it, may be serviced readily by dropping. the stake and swinging the latch to the dotted line position of FIG. 5, Where it is readily accessible for servicing.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangementof parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A log bunk and stake assembly comprising a frame, a stake, pivot means pivoting the stake to an end of the frame for angular movement of the stake between raised and lowered positions, a latch, pivot means pivoting the latch to the said end of the frame for angular movement of the latch between latched and unlatched positions, lock means positioned for releasably locking the latch in latched position, the lock means being shiftable between locked and unlocked stations, and abutment means on the latch projecting into the path of movement of the lock means for engagement and tripping of the latch by the lock means as it moves to its unlocked station.

2. A log bunk and stake assembly comprising a frame, a stake, pivot means pivoting the stake to an end of the frame for angular movement of the stake between raised and lowered positions, a latch, pivot means pivoting the latch to the said end of the frame for angular movement of the latch between latched and unlatched positions, roller cam lock means positioned for releasably locking the latch in latched position, the cam lock means being shiftable between locked and unlocked stations, and abutment means on the latch projecting into the path of movement of the cam lock means for engagement and tripping of the latch by the cam lock means as it moves to its unlocked station.

3. A log bunk and stake assembly comprising a frame, a stake, pivot means pivoting the stake to an end of the frame for angular movement of the stake between raised and lowered positions, a latch, pivot means pivoting the latch to the same end of the framefor angular movement of the latch between latched and unlatched positions, lock means positioned for releasably locking the latch in latched position, the lock means being shiftable between locked and unlocked positions, abutment means on the latch projecting into the path of movement of the lock means for engagement and tripping of the latch by the lock means as it moves to its unlocked station, first means connected to lock means for operatively moving it to its locked position from a station adjacent the latch to positively lock the latch, and second means connected to the lock means extending to a station remote from the stake for operatively moving the latch to its unlocked position from said remote station.

4. The log bunk and stake assembly of claim 3 wherein the lockmeans comprises a roller engaging the latch and wherein the first means comprises a chain and finger pull attached to the roller earn.

5. A log bunk and stake assembly comprising a frame, a stake, pivot means pivoting the stake to an end of the frame for angular movement of the stake between raised and lowered positions, a latch having a latching head and a shank, pivot means pivoting the latch to the said end of the frame for angular movement of the latch between latched and unlatched positions, roller cam lock means positioned for releasably locking the latch in latched position, the cam lock means being shiftable between locked and unlocked stations, and a projection on the latch extending outwardly from the shank for engagement and tripping of the latch by the cam lock means as it moves to its unlocked station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,619,958 Sannar et al Mar. 8, 1927 2,475,753 Nordberg et al July 12, 1949 2,828,140 Hassell Mar. 25, 1958 

1. A LOG BUNK AND STAKE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FRAME, A STAKE, PIVOT MEANS PIVOTING THE STAKE TO AN END OF THE FRAME FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF THE STAKE BETWEEN RAISED AND LOWERED POSITIONS, A LATCH, PIVOT MEANS PIVOTING THE LATCH TO THE SAID END OF THE FRAME FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF THE LATCH BETWEEN LATCHED AND UNLATCHED POSITIONS, LOCK MEANS POSITIONED FOR RELEASBLY LOCKING THE LATCH IN LATCHED POSITION, THE LOCK MEANS BEING SHIFTABLE BETWEEN LOCKED AND UNLOCKED STATIONS, AND ABUTMENT MEANS ON THE LATCH PROJECTING INTO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE LOCK MEANS FOR ENGAGEMENT AND TRIPPING OF THE LATCH BY THE LOCK MEANS AS IT MOVES TO ITS UNLOCKED STATION. 